Hengshan Road, Historic thoroughfare in Xuhui District, Shanghai.
Hengshan Road is a thoroughfare in the Xuhui District lined with mature trees, historic buildings, and modern establishments. The street runs through residential and commercial areas, with restaurants, shops, and office buildings distributed along its length.
The street was originally named Avenue Pétain in 1922 and connected the French Concession to the Catholic district of Zikawei. It was renamed in 1943 and remains a remnant of Shanghai's colonial period.
The street displays buildings from different eras, ranging from former French villas to modern shops and restaurants. This mix reflects Shanghai's past as an international trading hub where diverse cultures came together.
The street is accessible via multiple stations on Shanghai Metro Line 1, providing several entry points. The area is walkable and easy to explore on foot, with ample space to stroll and discover different sections.
The street houses the American College and Community Church, built in 1925, which has maintained its original function serving residents since its establishment. The building exemplifies how certain institutions from Shanghai's international period have endured without change.
Location: Xuhui District
GPS coordinates: 31.20404,121.44014
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41
Shanghai brings together the past and the present in a single city. The Bund lines up colonial facades from the 1920s and 1930s directly across from the Lujiazui skyline, where glass towers rise on the opposite bank of the river. In the narrow lanes of the French Concession, old plane trees shade historic townhouses while just a few blocks away the new city center climbs with office towers and shopping malls. This mix defines the whole cityscape. The city preserves its religious and cultural roots in active temples such as Longhua and Jing'an, which stand in the middle of modern neighborhoods. The Ming Dynasty Yu Garden remains surrounded by traditional teahouses even as contemporary shops have grown up around it. Water towns like Zhujiajiao and Qibao sit on the outskirts and show how life looked centuries ago in the region. Museums such as the Shanghai Museum and the China Art Museum collect art and history from different eras. For families there are the Ocean Aquarium, Shanghai Disneyland, and the Science and Technology Museum. Places like Tianzifang, M50 Creative Park, and Duolun Road reveal contemporary cultural life in converted old buildings. Each neighborhood has its own character, from the wide boulevards at People's Square to the small workshops along old industrial structures like 1933 Old Millfun.
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